GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 12

There's an old saying, "every rule has an exception," and that even applies to the renowned Glendronach, a distillery that seemed unbeatable in my opinion. I've tried several of Glendronach's Cask Strength releases and even gave perfect scores to a couple, but the most recent batch, Batch No. 12, wasn't my favorite. Bottled at 58.2% ABV, it was matured in oloroso and PX sherry casks. On the nose, it starts off buttery and young. Hints of white wine, white chocolate, and almonds. It smells too much like "new make" spirit. It seems excessively young. On the palate, it's slightly better. White chocolate, almonds, and spices with a peppery sensation. The aftertaste also feels young, with indistinct notes of bitter chocolate and spices. Overall, not much developed here. This is the first time combining the words "Glendronach," "Oloroso," "Cask Strength," and "Pedro Ximenez" hasn't resulted in complexity, wonderful aromas, and a satisfying finish. A very average dram, underwhelming, and a little disappointing. My score is 85 out of 100, and I believe this might be the lowest score I've given to a spirit from my favorite distillery.

Compared to batch 11, Batch 12 is somehow superior. While Batch 11 is dominated by a dry sherry note, in Batch 12 the sherry finish is not directly apparent; all the components meld with the base spirit, complementing each other and creating a more harmonious and balanced profile, resulting in a better mouthfeel. It was named a top 10 pick by Whiskey Advocate, and although their selections can be debated, they identified an excellent batch.

An intense and vivid expression with flavors of prunes, raspberries, Nutella, malt, blueberries, honey, cinnamon, baked red apples, butterscotch, toffee, and date syrup. It could use more time in the barrel, as the initial sharpness suggests a lot of young components were blended into this expression.

Color: Deep, rich amber Body: thick, slow-dripping droplets Smell: smoke, dark chocolate, nutty, rich Taste: coats the tongue thickly, nutty, bitter chocolate, a fruity hint with caramel at the end Finish: slow, a nice warming sensation in the chest, thick

This spirit truly opened up with a little water. It has notes of dark chocolate and rich sweet fruitiness. However, without water, the alcohol is a bit too strong for my preference. Just a few drops of water bring out its sweetness and richness, creating a beautiful oak balance.

This is a fantastic milk chocolate explosion.